Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that the State is hosting several national and international conferences in Port Harcourt to sell the state to the investing public.

Speaking when he granted audience to the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA, Arc. Tonye Oliver Braide at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday, said that sponsored propaganda against the state has not reduced the value of Port Harcourt as a safe haven for investments.

He said that in the next three months, Rivers State will host Architects, Lawyers, Editors, Magistrates and Judges as they hold their conferences in Port Harcourt.

The governor said: "We have proved that Rivers State is safe for visitors and investors. Only recently, we hosted the African Movies Academy Awards, we will host the Magistrates Association in July, the Federal High Court will host its legal week here, while the NBA Annual General Conference with 7000 lawyers attending.

"Every state in this country has one form of security challenge or the other. But in our case, we are resolving the challenges and the people have faith in our capacity. That is why they prefer Port Harcourt for their events ".

He assured the leadership of the NIA that the state government will support the hosting of the West Africa Architecture Festival in Port Harcourt.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc Tonye Oliver Braide said the West Africa Architecture Festival will attract 15000 participants to the state, with the potential of kicstarting the state’s economy.

He said: "The West Africa Architecture Festival will evolve into an annual mercantile exchange where new products are launched and business to business deals transacted. This shall be a win-win for Rivers State, from hosting international investments to developing a formidable attendant value chain which will generate economic benefits for all concerned ".

He added that the NIA supports the recreation of Port Harcourt as the nation’s garden city that will continue to attract people from all walks of life.